Flare Tip Inspections

INTRODUCTION

A traditional flare-tip inspection requires weeks of planning, preparation and on-site time, not to mention taking the flare system temporarily ‘offline’ with a resultant loss of productivity. Applus+ is changing all of this with a move towards remote-access inspections.

Applus+ UAV drone inspections offer unprecedented visual access to hard-to-reach assets such as flare ignition systems and flare stacks. Our UAVs use only the highest-grade professional cameras to ensure that the customer can see exactly what they need to see during the inspection of their asset.

Performing live flare-tip inspections is our speciality and we are able to provide valuable insights into the condition, function and integrity of a gas-flare system at short notice and whilst the processing plant and flare system remain fully operational, thereby helping to prevent major events such as scheduled shutdowns or unusual flaring events .

Applus+ draws on the unique possibilities afforded by UAV technologies to capture a full 360-degree perspective of the asset and use post-processing software to ensure crisp, precise and valuable images are delivered to the client.

Applus+ can provide a scalable level of service starting with basic monitoring of flow rates and flare functionality and going all the way through to CVI-level visual and thermography inspections accompanied by comprehensive inspection reports.

The aerial photographs captured are collated with ground-based images and aerial overview ‘maps’ to facilitate the efficient future use of the data set by anyone who may need to access it.

Applus+ has performed countless safe and effiecient UAV drone inspections of flare tips both onshore and offshore for all of the major oil and gas providers around the world.

TARGET CUSTOMERS

Aerial-photography solutions are perfectly suited to performing live flare-tip inspections and monitoring for a number of different industries. UAV photography inspections can be performed at any time and, in contrast with other inspection methodologies, are fast, efficient, safe and highly effective.

Aerial inspection and monitoring can be used for a number of purposes including general asset inspection, post-incident inspection, pre-shutdown monitoring or during unusual flow process events to monitor the integrity of the flare system.

The UAV system can be transported at short notice on conventional commercial airlines and is small enough to be taken offshore via helicopter with the UAV operators.

KEY CUSTOMER BENEFITS

Applus+ UAV inspections are a very efficient way for our clients to safely and quickly inspect their gas-flare systems. Use of this technique provides our clients with a number of benefits over existing remote-access inspection methodologies:

UAV inspection is fast, safe and efficient as well as able to provide a totally unique visual perspective

The UAV crew can perform a full 360-degree inspection of a flare tip in a matter of days while the flare system remains fully operational.

The human work crew can remain on the ground and out of danger for the entire duration of the inspection